Sheaf-carrier for self-binding harvesters



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. B. A. KENNEDY & J. P. STEWARD. SHEA]? CARRIER FOR SELF BINDING HARVESTERS.

. PatentedJune 25, 1889.

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(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2., B. A. KENNEDY & J. F. STEWARD. SHEA]? CARRIER FOB. SELF BINDING HARVESTERS-. No. 405,892.

Patented June 25', 1889.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFF CE.

BURR A. KENNEDY AND JOHN F. STEIVARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SHEAF-CARRIER FOR SELF-BINDING HARVESTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,892, dated June 25, 1889.

Application filed July 27, 1885. Serial No. 172,762.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, BURR A. KENNEDY and JOHN F. STEWARD, citizens of the United States,residing at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in sheaf-Carriers for Self-Binding Harvesters, of which the following is a full description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a plan view of our sheaf-carrier and of one end of a harvester-frame, to which it is attached. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a self-binding harvester with our carrier applied thereto. Fig. 3 is aperspective view with parts partially in section showing the method of hinging the fingers to their support. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the hinge-connection in a modified form. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the carrier with the fingers in a folded or dumping condition. Fig. (3 is a view showing a modified form of trippingfinger.

Referring to the drawings, A A are the front and rear sills of the harvester; B B, the cross-sills extending in a fore and aft direction; C, the seat-plank, D, the front post; E, the seat; F, the binder, and G, 1}, G and G the binder deck or table.

The foregoing parts pertaining to the harvester and binder are of ordinary construction, and being foreign to our invention need not be described in detail herein.

Our carrier is located at the delivery or stubble side of the machine. It consists, fundamentally, of a series of fingers a a &c., projecting stubbleward from under the binding-table and of suitable length to receive and support four or five bundles or sheaves. They are curved slightly upward toward their outer ends to prevent the sheaves from jarring off when they are in operative position. Each finger has its inner end bent to form a vertical pivot, journal, or axis a on which the finger may move and swing rearwardly. This pivot extends upward from the body or horizontal portion of the finger. At the top of the journal the finger is bent horizontally inwardthat is to say, grainwardand then downward, to form a crank or lever, by which to move and control the finger.

(N0 model.)

The manner of pivoting the fingers is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in which I) is a supportingbar extending horizontally in a fore and aft direction, and sustained rigidly in position by means of bars 6 8', extending beneath the crosssills of the main frame and secured firmly in position by bolts 6 and 6 A plate 0 is secured firmly on top of the supporting-bar b, and a second plate (1 is secured to the under edge of the bar. Both plates extend beyond the outer face of the bar, and are provided with openings constituting bearings in which the vertical pivots of the respective fingers are mounted. The holes in the lower plate (Z are elongated or slotted in a fore and aft direction. lVhen the pivots are vertical and the fingers in their operative or receiving positions, the pivots stand in the rear end of the slots. As the fingers swing rearward at the outer end the lower end of the pivots or journals swing forward in the slots, permitting the rear ends of the fingers to fall to the ground. hen the fingers are in operative position-that is to say, projecting stubbleward at right angles to the line of travel theyare prevented b y the plates from falling. For the purpose of controlling the motion of the fingers, a bar, g, is arranged to slide forward and backward in gains in the bars 6 c, and it is held in place therein by means of capplates h h.

To the under side of the bar g is secured a plate of metal f, of such width that its edge projects stubbleward beyond the bar. In this projecting plate we form slots 1 to 7, inclusive, and in the respective slots we mount the crank-arms of the respective fingers, as plainly shown in the several figures. The bar thus connected to the fingers compels them to move in unison about their vertical pivots, and maintains them at all times in parallel or substantially parallel positions. The bar g is connected by a link Z to one end of a lever i, which is extended grainward and pivoted midway of its length to a suitable support on the harvester-frame. At its inner end this lever is connected by a joint 0 to a bar m, which is extended rearward and mounted at its opposite extremity on an arm n, extending from a horizontal rock-shaft n seated in bearings n on the seat-plank C. The arm a of the rock-shaft extends in a forward direction, while a second arm 02 suitably shaped to receive the foot of the operator, extends from the shaft in a rearward direction. While in his seat the operator is enabled, by means of the arms n and n and the intermediate connections, to move the sliding bar g forward and backward, and thereby control the motion of the fingers around their pivots. When the bar is moved rearward, it carriesthe fingers to the operative position shown in Fig. 1. As it is moved or permitted to move forward, the fingers swing at their outer ends rearward, downward, and inward toward the machine, folding closely together in the manner represented in Fig. 5, thereby eifecting the easy and instantaneous delivery of the sheaves. I When in their rearward position, the fingers are free to rise at the rear ends in order to override obstructions. As soon as ,the fingers have swung slightly to the rear of the operative position, the weight of the sheaves will cause the vertical pivots to swing forward in the slots of the plate d. The forward movement of the machine will cause the fingers to draw from under the sheaves. A slight movement of the fingers from the receiving position toward the rear causes the pivots to slip forward in the slots and let the sheaves escape. Pressure upon the pedal is required but an instant.

In order to render our carrier automatic in its action, we make one of the fingers (preferably the foremost one a) so long, and arrange it at its outer end so low, that it will come in contact with the sheaves delivered at the previous round of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1. As the machine makes its first round of the field, the sheaves are left in piles at regular intervals. After the first round the finger a will encounter the piles of sheaves and be swung backward around its pivots, and through the intermediate connections operate the other fingers in like manner. When this automatic action is to occur, the driver will at the proper time cease the pressure of his foot on the controlling arms or cranks. If he should desire to carry the bundles beyond the point at which they would be automatically dropped he increases the m3, and resists the tendency to dump, whereupon the long finger will yield, by reason of its elasticity, and pass the sheaves. In order to provide against the automatic tripping, the long or tripping finger may be jointed, so as to admit of its end being turned upward to escape the sheaves previously discharged, as shown in Fig. 6.

As a convenient means of supporting the lever 41, through which the carrier is controlled, we provide a brace j, bolt its foot to the cross-sill B, and secure it near the upper end by the yoke 7a to the post D of the harvester-frame. The upper end of this brace j is suitably shaped to form the pivot for the lever i.

In Fig. 4 we have shown a modified form of the bearings for the journals or pivots of the finger. In place of the two metal plates 0 and d we employ for each finger a hinge plate or socket bolted to the face of the bar b. This socket, through which the pivot or journal of the finger passes, is adapted to closely embrace the pivot at the upper end, and is elongated at the lower end in a fore and aft direction, thus allowing the tooth the same motions that are permitted by means of the plates shown in Fig. 3.

It will be observed that our fingers have a twofold motion: first, the swinging motion around the vertical pivot, and, second, the falling motion of the outer end, due to the fact that the pivot is permitted to tip from a vertical to an inclined position.

The essence of our invention resides in so mounting the upright pivots or journals around which the teeth swing horizontally that they (the pivots) may be tipped in a fore and aft direction from the upright to an inclined position in order to permit a falling motion of the teeth as they are swung to the rear. We believe ourselves to be the first to mount tooth-supporting pivots so that they may receive this tipping motion, and it is to be distinctly understood that our invention includes any form of bearing or support the mechanical equivalent of those herein shown which will permit this motion of the pivot.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is-- 1. A sheaf-carrier composed of a series of fingers journaled in a supporting-bar upon journals or axes normally vertical, the bearings for the journals being constructed substantially as described, whereby, when the fingers are swung to the rear to discharge the load, by being turned on their vertical journals, said journals may assume an inclined position to drop the ends of the fingers to the ground.

2. In a sheaf-carrier, a series of sheaf-carrying fingers, each having at the inner end an upright pivot or journal rigid thereon, in combination with a sustaining-bar provided with journal-bearings elongated at one end in a fore and aft direction, substantially as shown, to permit the journals to assume an inclined position and lower the outer ends of the fingers when the latter are turned to the rear.

3. In a sheaf-carrier, the sustaining-bar with the bearings elongated at one end in a fore and aft direction, in combination with the fingers having the upright pivots or journals and the crank-arms, the connection between said crank-arms, and controlling mechanism extending to a point adjacent to the drivers seat, whereby the driver is enabled to control the horizontal motion of the fingers and thereby their vertical motion.

4. The combination, with a dumping sheafcarrier, of means for holding the same in position to hold the sheaves, and a trip-arm outreaching froni the carrier and adapted to strike the sheaves deposited by the carrier on the preceding round of the machine, whereby the automatic dumping action of the carrier is secured.

5. In a sl1eafearrier, a series of outreaching' sheafq'eceiving fingers individually piv-' oted to swing rearward in dumping, one of said fingers extended stubbleward beyond the remainder to en counter the previously-deposited sheaves, in combination with the connection between the fingers to compel their movement in unison, whereby the extended finger or trip is caused to move the others on encountering the fallen sheaves.

BURR A. KENNEDY. JOHN F. STEVARD.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN B. KASPAIR, JOHN CRoWE. 

